@ Truth and BT

There are large parts of BT where the experienced and long term staff are merely treading water doing just enough to get by, keeping their heads below the radar taking whatevers thrown at them (Crap as it might be) and adding little value to BT just so they can get that extra few months or years service before trying to get release and going with a big wad of cash. Quite a few of those people will tell you it's their service and they've earned it (Well I'd hate to see those who havent if this is the example).

I witnessed so many of these neandrethals and it was disgusting to see. They have absolutely no loyalty to the company, used the unions constantly to bemoan their lot yet did not and never would have the intelligence to really make a difference.

Equally there were those who are very proactive, want to help customers and the business yet are strangled from doing so by these idiots and management who are clueless. It's like the blind leading the blind.

The senior management team in BT need a good kick up the backsides, they need to be taken back to basics if they are to really transform. They need to get rid of the unionised mentality, stop putting compliance and similar in front of getting the job done and sort the mess out. Start talking to your people who do the job daily, let them show you how to get it right - They know how if only you would give them credit to do it and take the shackles off them.

Truth and BT

Since 2000 every non-Manager and non-Professional in BT has had a 30% pay rise as well as increases of around 5% each year until they reach the maximum for their grade.

The majority of Managers and professionals will be lucky if they have had a total increase in that time of 15%. Many will have had less.

The other workers as the "engine" of BT have more instant muscular industrial clout, reinforced perhaps by the entirely co-incidental burnings which occur when BT talks really tough with them.

What is amazing is the loyalty shown by the "managers" especially those who can give substance to the shambles and subterfuges, which regularly occur and are only hinted at by the press.

"The BT tech head" view reflects that of many competent "managers" who really ought to be bailing out but can not people can be so badly treated.

Performance in BT has always been of the brown nose variety with some fist waving to encourage the reticent to see their "failings".

See http://www.payfair.org/ to learn more.

The grass sometimes is greener

I work for a lagre company (much bigger than BT) on the front line (so to speak), and I get paid more doing what I do than if I were to take the next step up the career ladder. This is because I know more about the actual job I do than some managers, who do not deal with the technology and services we offer on a daily basis. Every year, as individuals, we get graded on our performance and this then determines the pay rise we get.

If you dont like the way you are being "shafted" and you know your stuff, then there are other companies out there who once they realise your potential (so you have to sell yourself to them) and how fantastic you are, would bite your hand off just to get your CV on their "looking for a job" list, and would pay you a good wage for doing the job with some good perks as well.

Its no good sitting and moaning about it, and going on strike, get up, stand up and make sure that your managers can see you on your breaks and lunch looking at jobs websites, reading the jobs pages, and making phone calls about jobs (also if you fancy a random day off, remember to put in the reason for requesting it that you are going job hunting or going for an interview)

Paris, because she knows all about moaning.......